Decades have passed since Louise Joy Brown was the first baby born through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Though the technology’s advanced since that first IVF birth in 1978, understanding of who IVF can help and what it achieves has lagged behind.
The wait time to find out if you're pregnant after fertility treatment (also coined the "two week wait" or #tww) is fraught with all sorts of anxieties and emotions. The anticipation during that window of time stirs a pot of emotions that can be hard to manage, especially with the added pressure of the old adage that stress affects your fertility.
For many, the culmination of their anxiety and emotional rollercoaster ends with the penultimate moment: "THE" blood test (beta HCG level also called "beta"). These tests are usually done at their doctor's office at the start of their day which is followed by a never ending wait for the phone call with the result.
Many people opt to "cheat" and do a home pregnancy test during their two week wait, prior to finding out the results of their blood test. Why would someone do that? Well, it makes sense for a lot of reasons.
For starters, finding out that you are pregnant is an intimate and personal moment that many people have long imagined—one that likely didn't involve a phone call from a doctor or nurse.
Second, that phone call could come at a time when you're not prepared for the news. Planning for the possibility of stepping out of a conference call or meeting, or finding an empty conference room when your phone rings is an added layer of complexity—especially when you aren't prepared for the emotions that might ensue when you hear the results. So it makes sense that you might want to experience the moment when you find out if you're pregnant or not in the privacy of your own space, or on your own time.
However, before taking that test, there are a few things you should be aware of when interpreting the result—namely the possibility of false results.
We respect every patient's decision to test at home, or wait for the results of the blood test, but in the event that you do test at home—regardless of what it shows—it is important to continue all prescribed medications until told otherwise by your provider.
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